EDD Online - Quick Reference Guide

I. Standard search:To perform a search for a string, click on the input box in the top left corner of the search mask and type in the search item. Then either click on the GO button or press RETURN to execute the search. The red arrows in the screenshot below mark the exact location of the search window and the GO button.

The hits are listed in the SEARCH RESULTS column on the left hand side of the search mask. By clicking on a hit, the corresponding full dictionary entry is provided in the ENTRY column on the right hand side of the search mask.

Note: Searches can also be performed without typing in a search string, namely by using SEARCH FILTERS. This search facility will be described in greater detail in section II. Search Filters.

1. Simple searchThis is the default mode, allowing the user to either work in the HEADWORD or the FULL TEXT search mode.

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1.1 Headword search:Click on the HEADWORD box (= default) to limit a search to headwords (or lemmata). Unlike many modern dictionaries, the EDD does not list compounds and derivations as headwords.

1.2 Full text search:Click on the FULL TEXT box to perform the search within the entire dictionary.

2. Advanced SearchClick on the ADVANCED button to open a menu of advanced search options.

The search mask then provides the following eight search field options, all of which limit the scope of the search to certain parts of the entry structure:

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2.1 DefinitionsClick on the DEFINITIONS box to perform the search only within the definitions.

2.2 CitationsClick on the CITATIONS box to perform the search only within the citations (i.e. example sentences illustrating the usage of a word or phrase).

2.3 CommentsClick on the COMMENTS box to perform the search only within the comments (i.e. Wright's explanatory remarks given within self-contained sections of the entry structure, often providing information on etymology, word formation or cross-references).

2.4 VariantsClick on the VARIANTS box to perform the search only within the list of variants (i.e. spelling variants of headwords). If no search string is entered, a click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of variants.

2.5 CompoundsClick on the COMPOUNDS box to perform the search only within the list of compounds (i.e. words consisting of two or more free morphemes, e.g. 'firewood'). Search strings can then be entered. If no search string is entered, a click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of compounds.

2.6 DerivationsClick on the DERIVATIONS box to perform the search only within the list of derivations (i.e. words consisting of a free morpheme and one or more bound morphemes, e.g. 'discharge'). If no search string is entered, a click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of derivations.

2.7 CombinationsClick on the COMBINATIONS box to perform the search only within the list ofcombinations (a heterogeneous collection of mainly compounds and phrases, labelled as such by Wright). Search strings can then be entered. If no search string is entered, a click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of combinations.

2.8 PhrasesClick on the PHRASES box to perform the search only within the list of phrases. If no search string is entered, a click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of phrases.

II. Filter search:Filters are a device for refining a search by pre-selecting the criteria according to which the hit list is generated. They allow the user, for example, to locate only those headwords which are marked as 'noun', 'figurative' or 'slang'. In EDD Online, several filters can be switched on simultaneously. The search mask currently provides the following search filters:

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1. Dialect areaThe search-mask mirrors the geographical classification of dialect areas as used in the EDD, providing dialect labels for nations, regions and counties. Dictionary users can employ the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu. AND means that all marked dialect areas must apply.

Some dialect labels include the button , which stands for 'partial/fuzzy'. This button allows to locate information which only relates to certain parts of a dialect area, e.g. 'north Yorkshire', as well as information which cannot be allocated precisely, e.g. 'in some parts of England'.

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The OK button, which is located next to the Boolean operators, only has to be clicked if other search filters need to be selected. Otherwise, the dictionary user can directly click on the GO button to perform the search.

The tripartite distinction of dialect areas is briefly explained in the following:

1.1 NationsSelect a certain NATION to retrieve only those entries which contain that nation label. Search strings can additionally be entered. Note: Wright's list of nations is selective and limited to the following nine countries / continents: America, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.

1.2 RegionsSelect a certain REGION to retrieve only those entries which contain that region label. In the search mask, regions are listed alphabetically under the nation to which they belong geographically. Search strings can additionally be entered.

1.3 CountiesSelect a certain COUNTY to retrieve only those entries which contain that county label. In the search mask, counties are listed alphabetically under the nation to which they belong geographically. Search strings can additionally be entered. Note: Wright's classification of counties was, of course, the traditional one used before the reform of 1974.

2. Part of speechThe search-mask provides part of speech filters for word class, morphology and syntax. This categorisation has been devised by our project team in line with modern approaches to linguistics. Some of the labels that occur within these three fields were not used as labels by Wright. Due to the fact that they keep recurring within the dictionary (e.g. in the definitions), we have, however, decided to include them as search filters. Dictionary users can employ the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.

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The tripartite distinction of part of speech labels is briefly explained in the following:

2.1 Word classSelect a certain WORD CLASS filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that word class label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

2.2 MorphologySelect a certain MORPHOLOGY filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that morphology label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

2.3 SyntaxSelect a certain SYNTAX filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that syntax label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

3. PhoneticThe phonetic filter, which will be implemented at a later stage, will allow queries for the phonetic symbols used in the EDD.

4. EtymologyThe search-mask provides the etymological labels as used in the EDD. It needs to be pointed out, however, that Wright did not always use these labels to explain the origin and history of a term. In many cases, they refer to somehow similar or related terms in other languages. Dictionary users can employ the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.

5. Usage labelThe search-mask provides usage labels for frequency, semantics and pragmatics. This categorisation has been devised by our project team in line with modern approaches to linguistics. Many of the labels that occur within these fields were not used as labels by Wright. Due to the fact, however, that they keep recurring within the dictionary (e.g. in the definitions), we have decided to include them as search filters. Dictionary users can employ the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.

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The tripartite distinction of usage labels is briefly explained in the following:

5.1 FrequencySelect a certain FREQUENCY filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that frequency label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

5.2 SemanticsSelect a certain SEMANTICS filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that semantic label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

5.3 PragmaticsSelect a certain PRAGMATICS filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that pragmatic label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

6. SourceThe search-mask mirrors the source labels as used in the EDD, including printed and unprinted collections, correspondents as well as literary sources. This feature has not been fully implemented in the current version of EDD Online. Dictionary users can employ the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.

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6.1 Printed collectionsSelect a certain PRINTED COLLECTION filter to retrieve only those entries which contain the corresponding label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

6.2 Unprinted collectionsSelect a certain UNPRINTED COLLECTION filter to retrieve only those entries which contain the corresponding label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

6.3 CorrespondentsSelect a certain CORRESPONDENT filter to retrieve only those entries which contain a reference to corresponding label. Search strings can additionally be entered.

6.4 Literary sourcesSelect a certain LITERARY SOURCE filter to retrieve only those entries which contain a reference to the corresponding literary source. Search strings can additionally be entered.

7. MorphemicThe morphemic filter, which will be implemented at a later stage, will allow queries for bound morphemes in the EDD.

8. Time spanThe time span filter, which will be implemented at a later stage, will allow queries for terms that were used during the selected period of time. This function is based on the dates provided for sources which are indicated within the citations sections. The time span filter allows, for example, to retrieve those terms which have a recorded usage during the second half of the 18th century.

The results of the time span search will have to be interpreted very carefully though. Strictly speaking, one can only conclude from a given date that a certain term was used in the year mentioned in the citation – but not how long the terms was used before or after that year.

III. Special functions

The menu bar at the top of the search mask has the following functions:

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1. HomeA click on the HOME button restarts the search-mask. This is advisable if the program hangs up or if a search takes too long.

2. MapsThis function will be implemented at a later stage. We are planning to provide dialect maps which illustrate the geographical distribution of dialectal usage.

3. ExportThis function will be implemented at a later stage. A click on the EXPORT button will allow the user to copy dictionary entries, result lists as well as query syntax to the clipboard so that it can be pasted into other applications.

4. PrintThis function will be implemented at a later stage. A click on the PRINT button will allow the user to print dictionary entries, result lists as well as query syntax.

5. HelpA click on the Help button opens the Quick Reference Guide.

6. AboutA click on this button provides background information on the SPEED project, which created EDD Online.

7. ContactThis function allows users to get in contact with the project team. We are grateful for any suggestions for improvement and will answer technical questions concerning EDD Online.

IV. Known Issues

In the current beta-version of EDD Online, several functions have not been implemented yet, and certain parts of the dictionary still require editing and proof-reading. In particular, orthographical mistakes (especially within the citations) and occasional parsing errors (i.e. structural errors) need to be reckoned with. In addition, complex (filter) queries will not always provide perfectly adequate results.

Despite these known deficiencies, we have decided to release this beta-version to allow early access to interested users. We also hope to obtain valuable feedback for the ongoing improvement of the online version. The dictionary is constantly being refined by our project team.

EDD Online currently requires Mozilla Firefox and has been optimised for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. We are working on extending its compatibility with other standard Internet browsers.

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